Covering for recreational areas

ABSTRACT

A cover for a recreation area including a horizontally disposed cover structure suspended by an upright support member; which cover structure being moveable between a position preventing access to the area and a position clear of the area to permit access thereto. The cover structure may be mounted to be raised or lowered while remaining horizontal or may be pivotally moveable between a horizontal position and a vertical position. Desirably the cover structure can also move in a horizontal plane from a position above the area to a position beside the area.

United States Patent Kelce Jul 22 1975 [54] COVERING FOR RECREATIONAL AREAS 3,009,166 11/1961 Sears 4/1721] 3,021,530 21962 S [76] Inventor: Raymond Robinson Kelcey, 12 3 777 319 25 n Moore Coburg, VICIOHQ, 3058, 3,822,420 7 1974 Kindness 4/17214 Australia [22] Filed: Mar. 14, 1974 Primary ExaminerHenry K. Artis 1 pp NO 451 378 Attorney, Agent, or FirmWenderoth, Lind & Ponack 57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1 Mar 19 1973 Australia 263MB A cover for a recreation area including a horizontally disposed cover structure suspended by an upright sup- [52] U S Cl 4/172 4/172 12 port member; which cover structure being moveable [51] E04}! 8 between a position preventing access to the area and a [58] Fie'ld 11 l72]2 172 13 position clear of the area to permit access thereto. The cover structure may be mounted to be raised or lowered while remaining horizontal or may be pivot- [56] References Cited ally moveable between a horizontal position and a vertical position. Desirably the cover structure can also UNITED STATES PATENTS move in a horizontal plane from a position above the g lcgele area to a position beside the area ur e 3,008,148 11/1961 Vierling 4/172.12 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 d I:'.:I:I

PATENTEDJUL 22 I975 SHEET PATENTED L I975 SHEET EEI BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a cover for a recreation area such as a swimming pool, a sandpit, games area or the like.

With the increasing usage of swimming pools in private homes there is a risk of young children entering the pool when it is unattended or accidentally falling into the pool, which may result in drowning of the child. In addition, a substantial amount of foreign matter drops into the pool whilst it is not in use particularly during the winter season which can contaminate the water and increases the work involved in maintaining the pool clean. Similar problems arise with sandpits in playgrounds and kindergartens where leaves and other foreign material can contaminate the sand. Also for health reasons it is desirable to keep cats and dogs and other animals out of the sandpit during the night and at other times when it is not in use.

2. Prior Art These problems with swimming pools, sandpits and the like recreation areas can be overcome by placing a cover over the area when not in use but the cover must be securely located so as to remain in position, particularly during windy conditions, if it is to remain effective. Further, the physical size of such a cover can be such that it cannot be conveniently placed in position and removed as required without the assistance of a number of people. Finally, it is desirable for the cover to be securely locked in position so that it cannot be removed by unauthorized persons. This latter requirement applies particularly to covers of swimming pools.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a cover for a recreation area which will prevent unauthorized use of the area, may be simply placed in the operating position and removed as required and may, desirably, be locked in the operating position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With this object in view, there is provided a cover for a recreation area comprising an upright support member located. in use, adjacent to the area, a cover structure carried by the support member and means to effect relative movement of the cover structure between a first position in which it is in a generally horizontal disposition preventing, in use, access to the area and a second position clear of the area to permit access to the area.

Conveniently, the cover structure is carried by the support member to be raised and lowered thereon between the first and second positions and to be generally horizontally disposed in the second position. Alternatively, the cover structure may be pivotally attached to the support member to be pivotable between the first and second positions and to be generally upwardly directed in the second position. In a further alternative construction the cover structure is carried by the support member to be moveable between the first and second positions in a generally horizontal plane relative to the recreation area. It will also be appreciated that the cover structure may be mounted to effect two or more of the above referred to movements relative to the support structure.

Conveniently means are provided to lock the cover structure in the position preventing access to the area.

More specifically,'there is provided a cover for a recreation areadefined by a perimeter wall comprising an.

upright support member located, in use, adjacent to the area, a boom mounted on the support member to project laterally thereof and being vertically moveable thereon, a cover structure carried by theboom and adapted, in use, to co-operate with the perimeter wall to cover the recreation area, a means to cause such vertical movement of the boom on the support member to, in use, selectively cover or expose the recreation area.

Preferably the boom is capable of angular movement about a vertical axis.

The cover structure is generally of the same perimeter shape as the area to be covered and may include a mesh material extending between the perimeter, the size of the mesh being determined by the size of the object or person whose access is to be restrained. A fabric covering of woven or non-woven material may be provided in place of, or inaddition to the mesh on the cover structure which will then also provide a shaded area during daylight hours.

A specific construction in accordance with this invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings; it being understood that that which is shown is given by way of example only and is not to be considered to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS A FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a cover for a swimming pool in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 in FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The cover shown in the drawings is for a swimming pool having a perimetric wall 1.

The cover comprises a column 2 of circular cross section which is rotatably received within a sleeve 3 secured in the ground 4 beside the pool such as by concrete. The sleeve permits the column to rotate ab'outits vertical axis and lubricant is generally located between the sleeve and column to facilitate this. An annulus 6 is secured to the column to protect against touching of the lubricant and may have means whereby the column may be releasably locked in any one of a number of rel atively rotated positions with respect to the sleeve.

Mounted on the column 2 are two U-shaped bracket members 8 and 9 each of which carries two'rollers 11 and 12 which engage with the column and permit the U-shaped members to be raised and lowered thereon.

The U-shaped members 8 and 9 are bolted to a tapering boom 13 which extends laterally from the column to a central hub 14.

The boom 13 is comprised of end plates 16 and 17 and atop and a bottom rail l8 and 19) joined by a web 20 of expanded mesh. This construction allows the boom to have strength without unduly increasing its weight. The preferred material of the boom is made by .luralcoPty. Ltd. but it is to be noted that other material and other forms of boom may be used.

The central hub 14 comprises two identical members, desirably aluminium extrusions which are bolted together and has formations 21 for receiving the ends 22 of a plurality of ribs 23 which extend radially of the hub 14. These ribs 23 have end plates 24 and 26 and top and bottom rails 27 and 28 joined by a web 29 of an expanded mesh. The ribs 23 are conveniently made of the same material as the boom but, once again, this is not essential.

The ribs 23 are bolted to the hub 14 and taper towards their outer ends and it is to be noted that rib 23a is bolted to boom 13 and to U-shaped member 9.

Extending between the ribs 23 are expanded mesh sector panels 31 which have their ends adjacent the ribs located in channel members 32. Those channel members are secured to the ribs by U-shaped bolts 33 whereby to secure the panels 31 in position. The expanded mesh of panels 31 is conveniently a Juralco mesh.

A perimetric channel member 34 covers the outer ends of the ribs 23 and panels 31 and is secured to the ribs 23 by bolts. The channel member 34 provides a pleasing as well as strengthened perimeter.

The ribs 23, panels 31 and channel member 34 go to make up a cover frame structure which is itself covered by a flexible material 36 to make a cover structure indicated generally by 35. The material 36 may conveniently be a synthetic plastics woven or non-woven cloth.

From the top of the column 2 a cable 37 passes to a pulley 38 carried on boom 13, to pulleys 39 and 41 on top of the column 2 and thence to a hand-operable winch 42.

By operating the winch 42 the cover structure can be made to lower to a position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 or to an even lower position in which it covers the pool and it is to be noted that the cover structure can be releasably lockingly engaged with post 43 beside the pool. By so doing access to the pool can be prevented.

The winch 42 can also be operated to raise the cover structure 35 to be clear of the pool as shown at 45 in FIG. 1 and access to the pool is thereby allowed.

In addition. the column 2 can be rotated in the sleeve 3 to enable the cover structure 35 to take up a position as shown at in FIG. 1.

The winch 42 is preferably provided with locking means whereby the cover structure 35 may be locked in raised or lowered position although locking in the lower position may conveniently be achieved at post 43.

The above described cover will serve to reduce the number of leaves and other debris which will fall into a pool but more importantly it will serve as a safety cover which can be used to exclude children. In this respect. the mesh of the panels 31 is, of course. chosen to be of a size to prevent children gaining access.

The above described cover can also be used as a sunshade and it may be that in the position indicated generally by 50 it can shade a particular area adjacent to the pool.

Modifications and adaptions may be made to the above described cover such as making the cover frame structure flat instead of conical but conical or dome shaped is generally preferred. In lieu of the handoperable winch an electric winch may be provided or in lieu of a winch a hydraulic cylinder, operable, for instance, by a domestic water supply, may be provided.

As another alternative to the'winch, a counterbalance arrangement may be provided.

In lieu of mesh for panels 31 there may be used sheet material such as galvanized iron, aluminium or other metal or a woven or non-woven fabric or synthetic plastics sheet. I

These and other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which includes every novel feature and combinationof features disclosed herein.

I claim:

1. A cover and cover support apparatus for a recreation area and comprising:

a single upright support member adapted to be positioned adjacent a recreation area;

means for mounting said single upright support member for rotation about a vertical axis thereof;

a horizontally extending cover having a configuration, as viewed from above, sufficient to cover said recreation area;

said cover having adjacent the center thereof an integral hub;

a single boom integrally attached along the entire length thereof to the top of said cover and extending from said hub to a position adjacent an edge of said cover;

bracket means attached to at least one of said cover and said boom for mounting said cover for vertical movement along said single upright support member; and

means operatively connected to said boom and said single upright support member for selectively vertically moving said cover, said boom and said bracket means along said single upright support member from a first raised position to a second lowered position.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said single upright support member comprises a sleeve adapted to be fixedly mounted in a foundation adjacent said recreation area, said single upright support member being rotatably mounted within said sleeve.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said single upright support member comprises a single cylindrically shaped column.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bracket means comprise a pair of U-shaped brackets, one of said brackets being positioned vertically above the other, each of said brackets having a pair of rollers journalled therein about horizontal axes, each of said rollers being in contact with the outer periphery of said cylindrically shaped column.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the uppermost of said brackets is fixedly attached to an end of said boom adjacent said edge of said cover, and wherein the lowermost of said brackets is fixedly attached to said cover at said edge thereof.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a frame formed of a perimetric channel member and rib members attached to and extending radially inwardly from said perimetric channel member to said hub and attached thereto; and a flexible cover structure fastened to and covering said frame.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means to releasably lock said cover in said first 

1. A cover and cover support apparatus for a recreation area and comprising: a single upright support member adapted to be positioned adjacent a recreation area; means for mounting said single upright support member for rotation about a vertical axis thereof; a horizontally extending cover having a configuration, as viewed from above, sufficient to cover said recreation area; said cover having adjacent the center thereof an integral hub; a single boom integrally attached along the entire length thereof to the tOp of said cover and extending from said hub to a position adjacent an edge of said cover; bracket means attached to at least one of said cover and said boom for mounting said cover for vertical movement along said single upright support member; and means operatively connected to said boom and said single upright support member for selectively vertically moving said cover, said boom and said bracket means along said single upright support member from a first raised position to a second lowered position.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said single upright support member comprises a sleeve adapted to be fixedly mounted in a foundation adjacent said recreation area, said single upright support member being rotatably mounted within said sleeve.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said single upright support member comprises a single cylindrically shaped column.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bracket means comprise a pair of U-shaped brackets, one of said brackets being positioned vertically above the other, each of said brackets having a pair of rollers journalled therein about horizontal axes, each of said rollers being in contact with the outer periphery of said cylindrically shaped column.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the uppermost of said brackets is fixedly attached to an end of said boom adjacent said edge of said cover, and wherein the lowermost of said brackets is fixedly attached to said cover at said edge thereof.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a frame formed of a perimetric channel member and rib members attached to and extending radially inwardly from said perimetric channel member to said hub and attached thereto; and a flexible cover structure fastened to and covering said frame.
 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means to releasably lock said cover in said first position. 